The telephone was under the stairway, quite near their retired nook. Helen rang the number for Grantly and there was a quick response.
“Hello!” came in Miss Louise’s contralto notes.
“Miss Louise, this is Helen Carter! Why haven’t you started yet? Don’t you know the count can’t give a ball without you and Miss Ella?”
“Oh, my dear, my sister is ill, very ill,—fainted just as we were getting ready to leave. You see she would make that cake, that angel’s food, although I told her I was going to make a fruit cake, but you know Ella—— Oh, but how can I rattle along this way? I have been trying so hard to get Dr. Allison and he doesn’t answer.”
“Wait a minute, Miss Louise,” and Helen put her hand over the receiver and turned to Dr. Wright.
“Dr. Wright, will you take me to Grantly? Miss Ella has had a fainting fit—a stroke, I am afraid it is.”
“Take you! My dear, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
“Miss Louise, Dr. Wright is going to bring me to Grantly in his automobile immediately. Don’t worry; we will be there soon.”
She rang off quickly and flew upstairs for her wraps. Chloe was not in the dressing-room, but she quickly unearthed her cape and hood from the bed where the many shawls and cloaks had been piled. On the way out she whispered to Nan where she was going, but told her not to tell the others, as she did not want to break up the ball or to cast a shadow on the happiness of the dancers.